Samson Oladokun brings microbiome expertise to the Department of Poultry Science

Samson Oladokun, Ph.D., the newest faculty member in the Department of Poultry Science, traveled the globe before landing in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Bryan-College Station in August.

“It was a three-continent journey for me to be here where I am today,” Oladokun said. “It started at home in Nigeria where I began my studies in animal science, then I went to the U.K. when I was awarded a scholarship to do a master’s, and then on to Canada for my doctorate studies.”

Oladokun grew up in a large, close-knit family, where two of his aunts are poultry farmers and his mother is a science teacher. His inquisitive nature was encouraged.

“There were chickens everywhere and I had a lot of questions about them, so I think that started me on my journey – wanting to find answers to my questions,” he said.

When he couldn’t find answers to his poultry questions in books, it put him on the path to study animal science in college.

“I am excited about the expertise Samson adds to the poultry science department that will be relevant to the commercial poultry industry,” said Audrey McElroy, Ph.D., Department of Poultry Science professor and department head.

An international education

Oladokun earned his bachelor’s and a master’s in animal production and management at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria; another master’s in sustainable agriculture and food security at Newcastle University, U.K.; and a doctorate in animal science at Dalhousie University, Canada.

That was followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Guelph, Canada. Along the way he worked in the poultry industry, spent time doing research in Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to the U.S. for a fellowship in Arkansas.

“I would say all of my academic background and training have shaped me for where I am right now, and I couldn’t be happier to be here at Texas A&M,” Oladokun said.

Research focus

Oladokun primarily focuses on the poultry microbiome and how the microbiome can impact the overall health of the birds. Improved microbiomes can reduce the likelihood of disease occurrence, decrease the need for antibiotics, and ultimately lessen the risk of antibiotic resistance.

“His research will address areas that are becoming increasingly important in the feeding and management of commercial poultry,” McElroy said. “He will also have a positive impact on our undergraduate and graduate student programs through new course offerings and mentorship of research projects.”

Oladokun works with prebiotics, probiotics, phytobiotics and other bioactive substances to assess their impact on flock health. Essentially, these bioactive substances can help to support the “good gut bugs” that fight off illnesses. His post-doctoral research involved utilizing these “good bugs” to combat respiratory illness, such as avian flu, in birds.

“I look at the ways we can harness the microbiome and modulate the microbiome positively,” Oladokun said.

“About one third of the protein humans consume today comes from poultry,” he said. “I think in the future I’ll hopefully be able to measure the impact of my work in the way it benefits farmers and the population.”

He is continuing this work in the department with a goal of positively impacting the poultry industry and growers in sustainable ways.

Teaching and mentoring

Oladokun is spending his first semester setting up his lab and settling in. Although he will spend around 65% of his time on research, he will also teach courses next year. He hopes to introduce students to innovative concepts that can improve production and resource efficiency.

“I have the technical know-how to introduce undergrads to the theme of sustainability, especially from a poultry perspective,” Oladokun said. “When we look at concepts like resource management, waste management, the mitigation of environmental stressors, and sustainable poultry farming practices, I want them to think about how we can initiate sustainability from the very beginning.”

Oladokun also believes a big part of teaching is sharing successes and failures.

“I think there are two ways to learn from a mistake,” Oladokun said. “You can make the mistake yourself or you can learn from someone else’s mistake.”

He wants to share his knowledge and experiences with students in ways that provide learning opportunities, allowing students to share ideas about potential improvements.

“I want my students to take the tenets, learning and knowledge from their coursework and what I’ve shared with them and use those as a springboard for what they want to do in the future,” he said.